Diet myths busted

Endless books and websites have written about certain diet mantras and techniques that have been widely accepted without proper research. The alarming fact is that most of these techniques are half truths that end up damaging your health more than helping it. All these fads have emerged from either general knowledge or sometimes the need to generate data for people to follow. Sometimes, flawed research techniques also lead to inappropriate diet strategies. These diet techniques are then followed religiously leading to health deficits. Let us have a look at certain diet myths that have been passed on over the years:

Milk helps you lose weight

There is a theory that claims that calcium content in milk helps to break down fat in the body more effectively thereby facilitating weight loss. However, lack of appropriate research results in this area renders it baseless. In fact, milk has high calorific value and dieting involves cutting down your daily consumption of calories. Yet, if you cannot stay away from it, opting for a low fat version is a much better option and clearly the way to go.

Heavy breakfast and light dinner

Some people base their diet strategies solely on super heavy breakfasts and light dinners. They do not bother about the quality of their breakfasts and are happy to indulge into anything to suffice this diet fad. However, research has shown that cortisol levels are high during the mornings and this gradually decreases during the day. High cortisol levels are linked with higher insulin resistance during which the blood glucose is converted into fat more easily.

Rice and weight gain

Some people are under the impression that rice consumption has a direct relation to weight gain. However, research has shown that high starch content in rice is good for health if consumed in appropriate portions. Research has also shown that weight loss is only based upon calorie consumption and if you can keep that under control then consuming rice is never going to be a problem.

Drastic drop in calorie consumption

Some desperate weight loss seekers attempt to lose weight at a pace faster than what their bodies can handle. Sudden starvation brings temporary results but there comes a point when you give in to your cravings and end up consuming more than what you did before. It is advisable to gradually reduce calorie consumption in order to maintain a stable weight reduction rate that your internal processes can come to terms with.

The list of diet myths is countless. It is your duty to look into facts rather than blindly follow.